A frame-to-frame remake of the original, it’s disappointing that Bhaskar Oru Rascal doesn’t rise above delivering a few laughs here and there, but even these moments are not genuinely funny.

Arvind Swami’s Bhaskar Oru Rascal, based on Mammootty’s Bhaskar The Rascal, is a needless, lousy remake that has nothing new to offer. A frame-to-frame remake of the original, it’s disappointing that Bhaskar Oru Rascal doesn’t rise above delivering a few laughs here and there, but even these moments are not genuinely funny. While Arvind Swami comfortably slips into the shoes of a hot-headed thug cum business tycoon and plays the role with effortless ease, it isn’t convincing enough to watch him own that character.

The plot revolves around two single parents – played by Arvind Swami and Amala Paul – who raise their children on their own. Turns out, their children study in the same class and are best friends. Aware of being raised by a single parent and what it is to miss the feeling of having both parents, the kids decide to get the parent to like each other and get married so that they’d have a family. However, things don’t go as planned and the events that follow form the rest of the story.

After impressing in films such as Thani Oruvan and Bogan, one wonders what really attracted Arvind to sign this project. If his sole intention was to take the commercial path, he might have succeeded, but it’s tough to say how this step will benefit him at this point in this career. He goes ballistic in a full-length commercial role, playing a thug who doesn’t even have the IQ of his son. Most of the action is over-the-top and sometimes even annoying. Some of the scenes between Arvind and Raghavan, who plays his son, are a delight to watch, especially their candor.

Amala Paul has very little to nothing to deliver. As always, she looks pretty in her pretty and plays the role of a mother quite effectively. However, she hardly has much to do in terms of performance. Baby Nainika, who made her acting debut in Vijay’s Theri, is a talent to watch out for. She’s a natural and plays her part extremely well.

There’s not much to like or talk about in Bhaskar Oru Rascal, except the fact that it does full justice to the original. Unfortunately, as a Tamil film, it falls flat as it brings nothing novel to the table.